Brownlow's Whig Decries "Impudent Malungeon"

Published in William Brownlow's Whig
Jonesboro, Tennessee
Oct., 7, 1840

NEGRO SPEAKING!

"We have just learned, upon undoubted authority, that Gen. Combs, in his attempt to address the citizens of Sullivan County, on yesterday, was insulted, contradicted repeatedly, limited to one hour and a half, and most shamefully treated, and withall an effort was made, to get an impudent Malungeon from Washington City, a scoundrel who is half Negro and half Indian, and who has actually been speaking in Sullivan, in reply to Combs!

"Gen. Combs, however, declined the honor of contending with Negroes and Indians_said he had fought against the latter, but never met them in debate!

"This is the party, reader, who are opposed to the gag-law, and to abolition! Bigotry and democracy in Sullivan county, well knowing that their days on earth are numbered, are rolling together their clouds of blackness and darkness, in the person of a free negroe, with the forlorn hope of obscuring the light that is beaming in glory, and a gladness, upon this country, through the able and eloquent speeches of Whig orators.

"David Shaver replied to Gen. Combs, we are informed. This is the same Davy, Mr. Netherland gave an account of, some time since, and who, Col. James gave us the history of, in an address, at our late convention.

"When Davy had finished, the big Democratic Negro came forward, and entertained the brethren. These two last speakers were an entertaining pair!"

For more on William Brownlow: Click Here.

Note the name of the newspaper in which this article was published is often given as Brownlow's Whig and sometimes as the Jonesboro Whig, but Brownlow did not use the former name until 1851 and never used the latter name. At the time this article was published, his newspaper was known simply as the Whig. See the reference in the previous blog entry.

Additional note in response to a reader query: The "gag-law" referred to in the article was a rule, usually called the gag rule, adopted by the US House of Representatives from 1836 to 1844 which barred consideration by the House of anti-slavery petitions. This rule was supported by Southern Democrats and some Northern Democrats and opposed by Northern Whigs and some Southern Whigs.

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